RAWALPINDI, the commercial center of the Potowar plateau, is one of the largest cities of Pakistan. It is a glamorous mixture of ancient culture and modern traditions. In the past few years,Rawalpindi has grown rapidly. Modern shopping complexes have sprung up through out the city and it now boasts a collection of High-Rise buildings. It has grown from a mere village to the largest city in the area.
Rawalpindi is ideally located in the foot of the Margalla. It therefore holds the unique status of being the staging ground for tourists from around the world.
Pindi Through the Ages:
Throughout the ages, Rawalpindi has been on the route of invaders. The first muslim invader, Mahmood of Ghazni (979-1030 AD), gifted the city to a Gakkhar chief, Kai Gohar. The town however, being on the invaders route, could not prosper and remained deserted until Jhanda Khan, restored it and gave it the name Rawalpindi after the villiage Rawal in 1493 AD. Rawalpindi remained under the rule of the Gakkhars until Muqarrab Khan, the last Gakkhar ruler was defeated by the Sikhs in 1765 AD. The Sikhs invited traders from other places to settle here. This brought the city into prominence. Sikhs lost the city to the British in 1849 AD. The British, seeing the strategic importance of the city, turned it into a military garrison in 1849 and established a military cantonment south of the old city. It soon became one of the major centers of the British Indian army. In 1879, the Punjab Northern Railway was extended to Rawalpindi but the train service was formally inaugurated on January 01, 1886. After the partition of the subcontinent, Rawalpindi was made the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army and began to grow rapidly. Today, it is one of the most important cities of Pakistan, both politically and economically.
Ayub National Park is located beyond the old Presidency on Grand Trunk (G.T) Road, It covers an area of about 2,300 acres and has a play-land, lake with boating facility, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open air theater.
The vast expanse of greenery at the Ayub Park, which incidentally is the largest park in Pakistan, attracts people from far.
Ayub Park is the most beautiful place in Rawalpindi and is full of greenery. People enjoy visiting it. Here is a beautiful scene of one of the lakes of Ayub Park in which water lilies are groomed.
Those who care for their health go to Ayub park for tracking and exercising early in the morning and in evening.
The water lilly lake of Ayub park is known through out Pakistan. It is a natural lake in which Water Lillies blossom through out the year.
Over the years, Rawalpindi has retained to traditional flavour. However, some modern residential areas and buildings have come up all over the town since the creation of Pakistan. Pakistan’s new capital, Islamabad being the twin city of Rawalpindi, equally shares the same archaeological and historical background.
The best places to live in Rawalpindi would be the Saddar area, and if you want to live peacefully (with snobby retired army people), Westridge and Chaklala might be good for you. The most lively place in Rawalpindi would be the Commercial Market area in Satellite town (thats where my house is). The market has expanded alot in the past few years, and our house, which was outside of the market is now part of the commercial area, and the value of the land has crossed 2crores thanks to this. A few facts about Rawalpindi, it has the General Head Quarters GHQ. Educationally, Rawalpindi is also home two two of Pakistan's best university's campus (NUST), namely MCS (Military college of signals) and ECE (Electrical and Mechanical Engineering College), the latter was the historic 'purana polytechnic'. If you want to go for some cheap shopping, commercial market and the Bara areas are pretty good. If you have too much money on your hands, goto the Ghakkar plaza areas, or just drive to Isloo.
Now comes the best part, food!
The best 'dhahi bhallaz' in Pakistan, 5th road Commercial Market
The best mithai in Pakistan 'Fresco Sweets' at Murree Road
Sattar Kabab walla at College Road for tikka kababz
The best Jalaibi in Pakistan, Grato Jalebi on Murree Roa
Pindi has truely changed its colours from a dead & dull city into an exotic & lively city. Some years ago, Pindi was crowed, unplanned and a place for immigrants from the neighboring villages, its still the same but now its also expanding and developing into a modern, up to date city, with lots to offer for everyone.
No doubt that Saddar is the place for some good shopping but the same kinds of things can be found in Raja Bazar, Moti Bazar, Sarafa Bazar in the center of the city. These bazar are to some extend underground and are made of small streets that carve their way through to some amazing shopping experience.
Saddar, Mall Road, Ghakkar Plaza is an open market on large roads.
The roads around the Cantt Area are wide and spacy, there are many hotels and restaurents on this area. The Murree Road has too been expanded and
reconstructed.
Spock, I have never been to commerical market, but my husband has told me about the the pricy location due to that market. I think once it was a normal market, but those who bought plots before the area expaned are the few lucky ones
Another market, the Kamran Market, where I made some kham on my kameez flapper dress, where the tailer actually ruined it.
There is this new plotting sceme going on in Pindi, its called err forgatten the name.
I have to say Pindi is getting interesting and interesting, I never thought that some day I would actually like this city.
Umer, if you have not seen the city, then you might not know how 'big' the city is, well anyway a city doesnt have to be big to get admiration, in my eyes.
Another new place you would like (believe me, all women love that place) is the Rabi Center Shopping mall. Its a shopping mall dedicated to cloth. Its located between Nazimabad Chowk and 6th Road Chowk on Murree Road.
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*Originally posted by sky: *
Spock - thanks for the info on food. Will keep those in mind when I visit there.
What are some other good places to eat in Pindi?
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The best fried fresh water fish in Pakistan can also be found on Murree Road, I am sure if you have relatives in Pinid, they will know where to take you, its close to Shabistan Cinema. Also, try Kareem ke samasaz in Saddar, that guy has been there since the time my dad was a student, and hasnt lost his touch!
Rawalpindi is a very nice, historic, and respectable city. It is also very close to where my family is from, Chakwal. Pindi is like 1 hour drive from Chakwal. I love shopping in the Saddar area and going for long drives in the different regions of Pindi such as through Murri Road, etc.
hey! welcome back, havent seen you in like an year or so! Long drives on murree road? Well technically you are right, the drives arent long, but the traffic jams are.
Which college did your mum go to?
nahi to aaj pindi kaha ke kaha hum poocha dai tai.
“lohg aivai ne kehnai nai, jissai pindi nahi takaya oh daraya he nahi”